Chapter 1: The Fall
Notes:
Readers: Constructive criticism is welcome, but please be kind 🥰. Thank you!
Chapter Text
Talia awoke underneath the cover of a thick canopy of trees. The air was cold, the kind that chilled her bones, making her body shudder. Her thin white dress did almost nothing to shield her from the wind burning her skin. After slowly opening her eyes, she tried to get up from where she laid. Anxiety had set in instantaneously. She braced herself, propping up onto one elbow, and arose to a seated position. The hard ground was merciless, making her knees ache as they pressed against it. Pain shot through her side as she moved, right underneath her ribs. Her hand flew to the wound. It was damp. She pulled away, and saw that her palm was covered with blood. She cursed to herself, remembering how the injury happened, how she found herself in this situation. It was something that she would have to take care of later. She fought against her body’s protests, eventually stood upright, and took a good look around.
The dawn… It was bright and beautiful, especially now as the little warmth it provided washed over Talia’s face. Rays of sunlight broke through the tree branches and illuminated her path. Her breath hitched. One foot after the other, she walked towards a clearing. Her leather boots crunched against fresh snow, something that she would find a small pleasure in under much different circumstances. She kept her head down, only looking up when she heard a noise. Each time, she was relieved to see that it was only a small animal making its own journey through the forest.
As she pushed through the trees, she saw a small church in ther distance. She found the sight of it peculiar, as churches weren’t a common occurrence nowadays. That is, if she was even still in Midgar. She realized that she didn’t really know where she was, or how she would get back home. All she knew now was that she had to get warm, and fast.
Talia pushed the heavy door open with her shoulder. Her ribs throbbed in pain, but she ignored it. She covered her mouth to shield it from the dust that was kicked up as she made her way in. A cough escaped her, echoing in the large room. The church was empty and seemingly abandoned. That was a good thing, a very good thing. She passed the rows of old pews and went up the steps that led to the podium. She took in her surroundings, looking for any sign of food or a warm blanket. Her eyes landed on a door tucked into a corner.
“Please… god…” Talia whispered to herself. She approached the door and turned the handle slowly as she opened it. It was dark. The only lights were from a few small windows carved out of the stone walls. There was a winding staircase that went up to the church tower. It was so tall that it almost made her head spin. Begrudgingly, she ascended the stairs, hoping that whatever was at the top would be worth the effort.
Another door awaited her arrival. Her breath was coming out in quick bursts, and she clutched her ribs even harder than before. She nearly fell against the door, but steadied herself, and turned the handle without bothering to be quiet this time. If anyone was here, they would have heard her labored breathing a long time ago.
To Talia’s surprise, it was a bedroom. A small bed was pushed against the wall, to the right was a large wardrobe, and to the left side was a narrow hallway. She went down the hallway first, relieved to find a small bathroom.
It was simple. The only amenities were a sink with a framed mirror hanging above, a toilet, and a medium-sized tub. She turned on the sink, and with a low groan from the pipes, cold water began to pour. She let it wash away the blood from her hands, turning the basin into a dark pink color. As she scrubbed the dried red stains from her cuticles, she looked up to stare back at the woman in the mirror.
Talia was met with a gaze as cold as death. Her dark brown eyes, normally large and bright, were swollen from exhaustion. Her pale skin looked sickly, and her raven-black hair was matted with dirt and god knows what else. If looks could kill, the mirror would have shattered into a thousand pieces. She sighed at her reflection, turned off the water, and walked towards the bath tub. She prayed that she could at least have the luxury of a warm bath to wash away the day she’s had.
Genesis Rhapsodos, first class SOLDIER, made his descent down a steep hill. He was on his usual patrol route around the outside border of Midgar, which consisted of dark, dense forests; a stark contrast to the iron and steel of the city. He enjoyed this part of his duties. It allowed him to breathe in fresh air instead of smog, and to see wildlife instead of politicians. He even liked the way the snowflakes kissed his face, and the way the cold made his cheeks burn; matching the auburn color of his hair. And so, he felt lighter on days like this. It was therapeutic in a way that Shinra H.Q. could never match up to.
As Genesis continued along his path, a horrific sight made him stop in his tracks. A blood trail, bright crimson against white snow, reaching all the way to the end of the forest. It seemed to go on forever. Whoever it belonged to, they were gravely injured. He then noticed faint footprints as well, nearly obscured by the morning snowfall. If he wasn’t trained for these situations, he would have missed it entirely.
Genesis then pulled out a comms device from his uniform pocket, and raised it to his lips.
“Angeal… Sephiroth… Can you hear me?”
For a moment, he could only hear static. Then, a deep baritone voice finally spoke.
“I can hear you. What’s your status?”
Another voice came through, this time a melodic timbre.
“Everything alright, Genesis?”
“I’m afraid not. You two, meet me at the coordinates I’m about to send you. And quickly… You’ll want to see this.”
Chapter 2: A Bird with Broken Wings
Summary:
Talia is saved, but at what cost?
Chapter Text
The two other first class soldiers rendezvoused with Genesis. They decided to begin their investigation immediately upon his discovery. They were soon led into the densest part of the forest, where the sunlight struggled to penetrate the thick tree branches. As they began their trek, they walked in a single line formation with a few feet of distance between. With the exceeding snowfall, time was limited. The tracks were slowly losing their opacity, and so they quickened their pace, sacrificing some of their attention to detail for fear of losing the trail entirely.
Angeal Hewley led the group. The black-haired SOLDIER with a stoic countenance, and an unwavering resolve, moved quietly through the brush like a large cat. Despite his broad, muscular stature, he made little to no sound as he prowled over rocks and brambles.
“The trail turns here,” He informed the others, diverging to the right. He then noticed a handprint staining a tree with red, the image blurred as if the person slipped and caught themselves. He pulled out his phone and snapped a picture, adding it to the collection of evidence he was steadily growing for Shinra.
After a few minutes, the trees thinned out, giving the men room to breathe and move more freely. Genesis jogged forward to walk next to Angeal. He kept his head on a swivel, listening out for any strange sounds that didn’t belong there. Noticing things that were usually overlooked was his specialty. He had a talent for finding the extraordinary in things that most would call mundane. People said that he was as sharp as a knife, and that his cunning was his greatest attribute. But still, after all his scrutinizing, there was nothing to report. Just birds, rabbits, chipmunks, and squirrels. All perfectly normal things one would find in an environment such as this. However, his heart rate began to quicken as they made their way towards a clearing.
“Angeal…” Genesis said, keeping his voice low, “do you realize where we are…?”
“I do,” Angeal responded, “…the abandoned Sector.” He was matter of fact in his tone, as if he were talking about what he had for breakfast.
“Isn’t this area supposed to be closed off?”
“That won’t stop anyone from breaking in.”
“Shinra’s budget cut is to blame,” Sephiroth spoke up from behind them, “Everything is being poured into the war with Wutai. There’s hardly anyone ever posted to maintain the perimeter.” He had fallen back a few feet, keeping a close, watchful eye on his companions.
“You’re not wrong,” Genesis remarked with a shake of his head. “Even so, the lack of security is astounding.”
“Hopefully, this next batch of recruits will be competent enough that we can trust them to take care of it,” Angeal said with little faith. “I already have one person in mind, but he still has a long way to go in his training, and there’s no way he could cover this much ground on his own.”
”Are you speaking of Fair?” Genesis asked, “I quite like him. He’s got grit.”
”Yes, and I agree.”
A sudden gust of freezing wind blew through the forest. The soldiers continued onward and pulled their coats tighter across their chests. Sephiroth then alerted the others as he spotted a dilapidated church in the distance, one that looked like it hadn’t been used in a long time.
Once they got closer, they saw that the door to the entrance was wide open. Small, bloodied footsteps led straight into it.
Genesis mumbled under his breath, “Well, would you look at that.”
Angeal turned to look at Sephiroth, who was staring at the church as if it would get up and walk off if he looked away. “Looks like our person of interest is in there.”
Sephiroth nodded, “Keep your guard up. They’re probably barely breathing at the rate they were going, but you can never be too sure.”
“The blood hasn’t dried up yet. We might still have a chance to help them.”
“Quit talking and hurry up, you two.” Genesis motioned for his comrades to follow him, his eagerness making him restless.
“Keep it down,” Sephiroth scolded through gritted teeth, “At this rate you’ll alert everyone within 10 miles of where we are.”
“Only we’re crazy enough to be out in this weather. That is… including our target…”
“You say that as if we are hunting them down. This is a survey mission, nothing more.”
“Agreed,” Angeal interjected.
Sephiroth walked past Genesis without looking back, ignoring the face he was making. He summoned his sword, famously dubbed the Masamune, with a fluid motion of his hand. It was a striking weapon, a curved blade almost eight feet in length, forged as a warning to anyone who was unfortunate enough to cross his path on the battlefield. He stepped into the church sword first, his grip tightening over the handle. He briefly inspected each row of pews as he passed them, making a mental note of the undisturbed dust still lingering on the rotting wood. Whoever came in here didn’t stop to scope the place out, he thought, maybe they were desperate? The others filtered in, flanking Sephiroth, and then began their own searches at each side of the building.
“Over here.” Sephiroth heard Angeal call out to him from beyond the podium. He was standing in front of a door that was left slightly ajar.
“Whoever is up there… they were sloppy,” Genesis scoffed. Using the tip of his sword, he opened the door wider. He glanced over to the blooddrops and footprints left on the dusty floorboards. “Leaving evidence behind like this…”
“I don’t think they cared enough to conceal themselves,” Sephiroth said absentmindedly, “They’re hurt, and just needed shelter.”
Genesis huffed in response, earning an eyeroll from Angeal. “Let’s just go.”
The men walked through the doorway and began their ascent.
Talia was suddenly startled, her body shooting upwards from where she crouched. She had been rummaging through the wardrobe for any warm clothes when she was interrupted by the voices coming downstairs. Three different voices to be exact, all male. She knew that there was nowhere for her to run. She ran to the bathroom where she was cleaning her wounds just minutes before, and locked the door. She panicked. There was nothing to barricade herself in with, so instead, she shut off the lights, ducked down into the tub, and prayed.
With a hand over her mouth, she heard the bedroom door creak open from the bathroom. She could barely hear what they were saying, too distracted by her heart pounding in her chest.
To her dismay, the footsteps were getting closer. Their conversations stilled, and now, all she could hear were a pair of heavy boots coming towards her.
Thump... Thump... Thump
The footsteps stopped. They were right outside the door.
She saw the door handle jiggle. Once. Twice. Then, a force came down upon it from the other side, breaking the lock into pieces. It dropped to the ground, clattered loudly, and rolled towards her. The door swung open, revealing the intruder. Her eyes widened.
The man standing before Talia was unlike anyone she had ever seen before. She watched as he ducked underneath the doorway to step inside. His sheer size alone made her slink deeper into the tub. She suppressed a cry from escaping her throat.
He flipped the light switch on. The fluorescents illuminated his features with a subtle bluish glow. He had strong, angular bone structure: framed by hair that was as white as snow—a truly otherworldly sight. It reached all the way down to his waist, and cast a silver sheen whenever he moved. His skin was equally as pale; nearly translucent. Talia’s breathing quickened when she finally looked him in the eyes. They were unusually bright, an almost fluorescent green. Even from this distance, she could see that his pupils didn’t quite seem... human. They were thin slits, much more similar to a cat’s than a person’s. She then caught sight of an emblem on his military uniform.
Shinra Electrical Company
Talia knew what he was. He worked for them.
“Identify yourself.” The man ordered, his voice low.
She froze and parted her lips to say something, but hesitated. She noticed his eyes travel down to her waist. She followed his gaze and looked down at her blood stained dress.
“You’re hurt,” His tone softened, but barely.
“How perceptive of you.” The sound of her voice came out ragged; she hardly recognized it as her own.
Sephiroth resisted the urge to correct her. “You must be freezing in that.”
“I am.” At this point, her arms and legs had turned blue. She was beyond just simply feeling cold. “I was looking for clothes before I heard you come up the stairs.”
"Here." The man then shook off his outer layer. He slowly stepped closer to her, as if he felt that if he were to move too fast, she would run away. He wrapped the heavy jacket around her shoulders. The weight of it almost made her fall forward. She glanced up at him.
“Follow me.” He turned and left the room. Talia did as he said. When she re-entered the bedroom, she saw two other men accompanying him. A confused expression formed on both of their faces as soon as they made eye contact with her.
“A woman?” The auburn-haired one asked, cocking his head to the side.
“I’ll call the helicopter.” This time it was the dark-haired one that spoke. He was quick to act and within a few seconds, barked orders into a device. Talia was barely listening, choosing to instead focus on the dirty ground. She didn’t want to go with these men, but if she ran, where would she even go? She would surely die out there in the wilderness.
“Don’t bother her, Genesis,” The silver man reprimanded his comrade.
“Relax, Sephiroth. I’m just surprised to see someone like her up here in this wretched place.”
So, that one is Genesis, and the other is Sephiroth. Talia pulled Sephiroth’s jacket around her tighter, taking in every bit of warmth it provided. She began feeling a bit dizzy, and walked over to sit on the old bed.
The dark-haired man approached her when he ended his call and reached out his hand. “My name is Angeal. Our dispatch informed us that they’ll arrive in about fifteen minutes. You’ll be safe soon.”
Talia took his hand. It was so warm compared to hers. “Lyra.”
Angeal gave her a warm smile. “Can you tell us what happened to you? We followed the blood trail you left behind for almost two miles. Did someone hurt you?”
“Yes, someone did, but I got away.”
“I see. You’re very brave.” Angeal then slipped his hands into one of the many pockets of his uniform. He pulled out a ration. “Are you hungry?"
Talia nodded. Her stomach grumbled, begging for sustenance.
"Eat this while we wait. It’s not much, but it'll hold you over until we get back to base.”
Talia didn’t need to be told twice. She took the ration and unwrapped it. She no longer minded the cardboard-like taste.
“Can I inspect your wound?” Sephiroth asked her after a few minutes.
Talia paused, not sure if she was able to fully trust him yet, but she had gotten this far. If he wanted to hurt her, he would’ve done it by now.
“Alright.”
She moved the jacket to the side, exposing her injury. Her dress was torn where she was attacked, revealing red swollen skin covered in dried blood.
Sephiroth peered closer, a strand of his hair nearly grazed her knee. “It’s infected,” He stated matter of factly.
Well he certainly didn't attempt to sugarcoat his words.
”Is it... bad?” Talia's worry caused her voice to crack.
”Could be. How long has it been?”
”Just a night.”
Angeal then walked over and bent down to take a look himself. “It’s still in the early stages. We found you just in time.” He gave Sephiroth a displeased look.
The growing sound of helicopter blades then stole everyone’s attention. Genesis walked over to a window and peered out of it. “They’re almost here,” he called out from behind his shoulder, “let’s head down.”
Chapter 3: The Cage
Chapter Text
“The forests here are too thick, so the helicopter has no choice but to pick us up by the river,” Angeal said as he opened the door and took a few steps towards the stairs. He unsheathed his sword, a larger than life claymore. "I'll go secure the landing zone and make sure there aren't any fiends waiting for us."
"I'll come with you. Let’s avoid risking an ambush." Sephiroth began following him, but was met with a raised hand signaling for him to stop.
"I think it's better if Genesis joins me, actually... You can be the one to escort Lyra down once we see that everything is clear," Angeal countered. He gave Sephiroth a look that said: Genesis will be a liability.
”You’d rather have me on babysitting duty?”
”Unfortunately, yes.”
Talia sunk into herself. It wasn’t as if she wanted any of this, let alone one of these men watching over her. At this point she simply felt like a burden.
"Don't I have a say in what I do?" Genesis sauntered over and placed a gloved hand on his chest. “I don’t mind keeping her company. You two go on ahead.”
Angeal shook his head. “I’m afraid you don’t get a say, Genesis. Come. Sephiroth, do you have your comms?”
He gave him a curt nod. “I do.”
”Excellent. We’ll contact you shortly.” The two men disappeared into the dark, winding staircase.
Talia was then left alone with Sephiroth. She sat on the bed, while he stood a few short feet away gazing through the window. She wasn't any good at making small talk, and it seemed the man near her didn't like to talk at all.
When it became too much, she broke the silence. “Hey… Sephiroth?”
He almost looked startled, but turned to face her. “Hm?”
“May I call you that? Or should I address you another way?”
”Sephiroth is fine.”
”Right… I’ve been meaning to ask… Are you and the others with Shinra Electric?”
”That’s correct.”
Her heart rate quickened. They were dangerous. “I knew I recognized your uniforms.” She kept her voice as even as she could. “You must have a high rank.”
Sephiroth let out a huff of air, a smirk playing on his lips, “What makes you say that?”
”You’re dressed much more elaborately than most soldiers are.”
”So you’re familiar with us?”
”In some ways, yes.”
Then, before he could ask her anything further, a call came through on the comms. He raised it to his ear.
“Affirmative. Heading to your location now.” He hung up and walked over to his charge. He almost had a bored expression. “Let’s go.”
Sephiroth walked out and waited for Talia by the stairs, who got up slowly and hobbled after him. Her condition worsened, and her energy was depleting rapidly. She paused before the first step and looked down the dark descent as if she was about to go straight into the pits of hell.
He noticed her stalling; the way she trembled; the way her hands gripped the stone walls, turning her knuckles white. "Do you need to be carried?"
"Um, no... No, it's okay." Please let it not come to that, she begged.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
”After you, then.” Sephiroth inwardly prepared himself for the worst.
She took her first step, but, as if the gods wanted to humiliate her further, her legs buckled underneath her.
“Shit.”
Sephiroth caught Talia in his large arms, stopping her from falling to a certain death. She hovered there for a moment, chest heaving, before being pulled back up by the waist.
"Do you want to crack your skull open?" He reprimanded, but gently set her down on her feet.
"Not particularly..."
Sephiroth sighed, and without a single warning, lifted Talia into his arms bridal style.
She yelped as her body left the ground once more. His arms felt so strong, so powerful, he could surely snap her in two if he wanted to.
"Hang onto my neck. I need use of my other arm."
"A-alright."
She did as she was told and tried not to get her blood on his hair, but that was an impossible task. The silver strands were immediately stained with red where her arms wrapped around his neck. They were so close… too close. She barely knew this man, but she could feel the steady beating of his heart, the rise and fall of his breathing, the way his muscles contracted with his movements. She did her best not to make eye contact.
"Hang tight." He murmured before summoning his sword with his free hand. Talia couldn't take her eyes off of it, fascinated with his use of materia. That kind of magic was her specialty. She cursed herself; if only she didn’t lose everything she had the night before. Without her materia, she was rendered useless.
The two of them then made their way down the staircase, out of the church, and towards the coordinates given to them by Angeal. For a moment, she actually felt calm; she felt safe, but she knew the feeling was temporary. Shinra was unkind to outsiders, and she was headed straight into a den of hungry wolves.
“You said your name was Lyra, right?”
Genesis leaned in towards Talia. He had a mischievous glint in his eye, like a child teasing their younger sibling. She looked away from the window to address him, having been preoccupied with watching the Midgar cityscape from the helicopter. She had never seen so much industrial architecture accompanied by a concerning lack of vegetation.
“That’s right.” Could he see right through her?
“It’s pretty."
"Thanks..."
"Where’s it from?”
Talia narrowed her eyes at him, feeling slightly agitated. “It was my mother’s.”
“Was?”
“She... She died giving birth to me. My father named me after her.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.” Genesis leaned back against his seat, quickly changing the subject. “Are you from around here?”
Talia sucked in a breath to calm herself down. “I am. I grew up in the Underplate.” She wanted to shake him.
“I see… How’d you end up in that church? It’s a bit far from Midgar.”
“Gods, Genesis… Leave the girl alone.” Angeal commanded him, looking up from a touch device Talia had never seen before. “She can tell you her life story later. Can’t you read the room?”
Genesis threw up his hands in defense, “I’m just trying to get to know our new friend. You know, pass the time?”
“Some peace and quiet would be nice,” Sephiroth lifted his head from where he had been resting his eyes, “Wouldn’t you agree, Lyra?”
The way he said her “name” made her shudder, “Indeed, I do, but…,” she paused, “I would actually like to know what to expect when we get back to your base.”
Sephiroth regarded her with finely veiled curiosity. “We’ll admit you to the hospital first. Our team will treat you, and you’ll stay there until you recover. After that, you may be released.”
Talia frowned, “I may be released? What does that mean?”
”Our superiors will explain that once we land.”
“So… I’ll be kept there for a while.”
“Most likely, yes. I can tell you that you’ll spend a good bit of time in the hospital. Your injuries are serious.”
“Can I refuse?”
The three men all looked at her now. They looked amongst each other for a moment before Sephiroth answered. “Why would you refuse?”
“I’m not saying I will, necessarily. It’s more that I want to know if I have rights. Can I refuse certain treatments if I want to? Or am I being held against my will?”
Sephiroth leaned forward to rest his elbows on his knees. “Yes, you’re being held against your will. You were found in a highly restricted area. That is to be investigated, and if all is well and you’ve healed properly, then you are free to go.”
Talia didn’t know how to respond right away. She studied Sephiroth’s face, how his intensely beautiful features could scream danger just as much. They were not just helping her, but keeping her prisoner for the time being.
“For the record, I didn’t know that I was trespassing. I woke up in the forest and just… walked.”
Sephiroth’s eyes softened slightly, “The circumstances of your detainment are unfair, I know. It’s protocol, nothing personal.”
Genesis interrupted the two with a groan. He let out an exasperated breath and threw his head back against his seat. “How long before we land? I’m starting to get restless.”
“Twenty minutes.” The bald man piloting the helicopter quipped at him. Talia overheard him mumble something about needing a painkiller.
The Shinra building was both familiar and strange. Talia had seen obviously doctored images and videos about it on her family’s television, but nothing could have prepared her for the real thing. It was vast, larger than anything else in Midgar. They had landed on the helicopter pad at the very top. They were so high that it almost made her lightheaded.
“Turn around,” Sephiroth ordered.
Talia turned and crossed her wrists behind her back. The motion was more awkward than it should have been due to the thick jacket she was still wearing.
Sephiroth placed the handcuffs around her wrist with a soft click. He was fairly impressed with how calm she was throughout the entire ordeal. He half expected her to try something, but she gave in to every request. He wrapped his hand around her arm and led her into the Shinra building. Angeal and Genesis stayed behind by the helicopter pad, presumably taking care of other business with the bald man.
Faces turned whenever Talia went. She ignored them. It wasn’t their fault, as she was fully aware that she was a sight to behold. A woman covered in blood and earth, her white dress torn and battered… even she would try to catch a glimpse if someone in that state walked by her. She shifted uncomfortably in her clothes. She couldn’t wait for a shower.
“The hospital will call over a Turk to take evidence while they’re treating you, just so you’re aware,” Sephiroth said quietly to her.
“Thanks for the heads up,” She whispered back to him.
“You’re being awfully agreeable.”
She looked up at him in confusion, “Should I try to fight you off? We both know how that would end.”
“You have a point… Still, you aren’t even breaking a sweat. I think that, if I were in your shoes, I’d show a bit of concern at least.”
“I’m most definitely concerned, Sephiroth,” his face changed ever so slightly, a fleeting look of surprise, “but it is in my best interest to cooperate.”
“Indeed.”
The two of them rounded a corner. Talia looked above her at the sign reading “MED-BAY.” Sephiroth explained the situation to a nurse that Talia didn’t catch the name of, and afterwards she was sent on her way with her. She watched Sephiroth leave down the hall as the nurse made her sign some forms before being admitted. His broad, muscular back could be traced even under his winter clothes and impossibly long hair. He walked with quiet authority, and never turned to glance behind him.
The doctor gave Talia a sedative while they cleaned her wound. The Turk came and went, collecting what he needed with precision, and only asked her a couple of questions. Her medical team was quicker than expected, and soon, she was able to rest in her hospital bed without being bothered.
She watched her I.V. antibiotics drip down, having nothing more interesting to look at. She tried not to think about today, or worse, yesterday, and closed her eyes to sleep.
Talia woke up violently. She shot up from her bed, her chest heaving with every breath she took. It took a few tries to get back to normal, and once she did, she took a good look around, remembering where she was. The room was still a bit dark, with a small amount of light gently pouring in. She looked over to the clock on the bedside table- 5:47 A.M. She was generously afforded a small window in her room, so she crawled out of bed, and peered out of it. A sea of bright city lights flashed brightly for miles. It reminded her of when she lived in the Underplate, except this time the lights were below her instead of above. She let out a deep breath, almost not believing she was actually being held in the Shinra building itself. Her mentors would have a field day with this if they knew.
Around noon, a man with long black hair, dressed in a suit, visited her. She deduced that he was another Turk based on his uniform. He took a seat across her hospital bed, a respectable distance away. He had sharp, but also delicate features, and a soft spoken demeanor.
“Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Tseng. I’ll be asking you a few questions on behalf of SOLDIER and Research and Development.”
“Alright.” Talia said while pulling her blankets tighter around her.
Tseng took out a notepad and pen. “What is your name?”
“Lyra.”
“Lyra- what?”
“Lyra Galandriel.”
Tseng nodded and wrote something down. “Good. How old are you?”
“Twenty-six.”
“I heard you grew up in the Underplate. Where exactly?”
“Sector Five.”
“Right.” Tseng then looked at her with more focus, with more emotion. “How are you feeling today?”
Talia looked down at her hands, still clutching the blanket like it would try to escape her grasp. “Better.”
“Would you care to elaborate?”
“No.”
A pause. Tseng didn’t press her right away. He let her sit with her decision.
“Can you tell me who attacked you?” He sounded like he was beginning to negotiate with her for answers and began writing again.
“Not who—what. It was a lone Bandersnatch.” That part was true. Talia had never dealt with such a beast, and the attack left not just a physical, but a mental mark on her.
“A Bandersnatch?”
“Yes.”
Tseng blinked at Talia’s answer. “How on earth did you survive that?”
“I’m fast.”
“You must be. You had no weapon, no materia that we know of… I’m sure you ran like hell.”
“I did. It got me at the last second, obviously.” Talia gestured to her side, which was covered in bandages under her hospital gown.
“You are a very lucky woman, Ms. Galandriel. Not many could have survived that encounter.” Tseng once again began jotting more notes down. He seemed to be very thorough.
“I guess I am…”
The Turk finished writing and closed his notepad with a snap. He stood up and walked a few steps towards her.
“Is there any family we should call? Anyone who would be worried about your whereabouts?”
He’s only asking me to verify the information I told him, Talia thought. If she answered truthfully, Shinra would surely seek them out, and that wouldn’t bode well for any party involved. Even the herbalist, Dani, who was by far the most tolerable of her village, would reprimand her for exposing them.
“No,” she answered with a shake of her head, “I have no family.”
Tseng bowed his head, “Very well. I shall take my leave then. Thank you for your cooperation.”
Chapter 4: Panic
Summary:
Some things are better left hidden in the dark.
Chapter Text
Sephiroth set his sword, the Masamune, up on its mantle above the fireplace. The curved blade gleamed in the low light, as if acknowledging a job well done. He had just finished up a sparring match with the other Firsts, and for once, it seemed that they didn’t hold back. The two of them came at him with an intensity that he had seen only in Wutai, hard and fast. However, as much as they tried to beat him, as much as they pushed back, he would win— he would always win. He scoffed at their arrogance, especially Genesis’s, knowing that one day he would end up just hurting himself in the process.
After running a rough hand through his long silver hair, Sephiroth tore his gaze away from the sword, remembering what he had set out to do. His thoughts of the woman from the church had become intrusive, invading his mind when he least expected it. The thoughts soon caused an uneasy feeling to form in the pit of his stomach, distracting him from even his most intensive duties. After reading through Tseng’s report, which strangely lacked the substantial level of detail he usually poured into his work, he made the decision to use his privileges to look into Lyra. There was something off about her energy and demeanor. It was almost as if she was numb to everything that was happening around her. He grabbed the keycard resting on his coffee table, and slipped it into his pants pocket before walking out of his suite.
It was well into the night, and the majority of the Shinra building was empty. Excluding SOLDIER and a few other departments, most employees have long gone home, leaving Sephiroth to walk the hall to his office completely alone. After locking the door with his keycard, he logged into his computer and typed in her full name into Shinra’s civilian database.
Showing 1 out of 1 results
Sephiroth clicked on the profile. His brows pulled together as he studied the picture of the young woman. She had the same pitch black hair, the large expressive eyes, and slight bump on the bridge of her nose, but this woman’s face held a deeper emotion within her, something like regret, or maybe even shame.
Born 06-24-1946
Died 12-21-1971
Cause of Death - Preeclampsia
This wasn’t the lost woman’s record, but her mother’s. Sephiroth remembered the conversation between Lyra and Genesis in the helicopter, how she mentioned that her mother died giving birth to her. He didn’t ask her about it then, but he decided he would if he ever saw her again. After all, they were similar to each other in that way. He took in a deep breath, noticing her mother’s obituary, which was published twenty six years ago. He clicked on the link.
“Lyra Galandriel, born under the Sector Five plate, was a teacher and seamstress by trade. She married a cobbler by the name of Soren Hawthorne , whose whereabouts have been unknown since his wife’s death. Tragically, her complicated pregnancy not only took her life, but also the life of her daughter, Talia Vale Hawthorne…”
Sephiroth stopped reading.
The woman, who he found completely alone in a church bathroom, covered in blood, lied to him, and for a little while, he actually believed her. He almost laughed at how gullible he was. Of course she would lie. She had no reason to trust him or the others considering their reputation. They were infamous for their violence. They had flattened entire countries for the sake of their company on more than one occasion; millions were dead because of them. Sephiroth was self aware enough to know that deep down, people were afraid of him, even when they smiled in his face. Lyra, or rather Talia, if that’s even who she is, was presumably scared out of her mind. She did what she had to do to protect herself.
Sephiroth redirected his focus to the father, Soren Hawthorne. He clicked on the hyperlink, opening up his record. He rested his chin on his hand as he examined the picture of the older man, one that he would describe as melancholic at first glance. His salt and pepper hair reached his shoulders; his beard was thick but well groomed, and his eyes were narrow and downcast. His mouth was pulled into a frown, the kind that spoke volumes of a difficult life. Reading further, his record showed that he still resided in Sector Five, where he owned a humble shop and repair business. Sephiroth felt a pinch of sorrow at the fact that this man had aged, but his late wife never had the chance to. He wondered if he knew that his daughter was still out there, alive, or was he instead fully aware, but keeping her existence a secret? And if so, why? What was so special about her to warrant taking such drastic measures?
I’m getting ahead of myself, he thought. He wasn’t even sure that she was really Talia. For as far as he knew, she could just be using the dead woman’s name for other reasons. Maybe she was a felon, or maybe she was hiding from something? Sephiroth leaned back in his office chair and thought back on their first meeting, how she looked up at him in fear like a fawn torn away from its mother. But something changed in her face almost instantly, the way she seemed to accept that her fate was in his hands. He could have killed her right then. She was technically a criminal, and Shinra’s laws did not discourage him to shoot first and ask questions later.
Sephiroth stood abruptly in his chair, mind reeling.
“What the hell am I thinking?” He said out loud. That wasn’t in his nature, so why did he even consider it an option?
She’s just like Rosen… Lost… Numb. Sephiroth recalled the Rhadoran boy, who had also placed his life in his hands when he was just a child himself. The boy who he had neutralized⸺ No, murdered because he was deemed as a criminal.
Sephiroth paced around his office in an attempt to calm himself down. He wanted to go into that woman’s hospital room at that very moment and confront her, but he knew that wouldn’t work in his favor. She’d probably clam up or worse, scream her head off, neither of which he wanted to deal with right now. He just had to be patient.
Then, as if he couldn’t feel more out of his mind, he remembered how he carried her down those church steps. The image of her smaller form, the feeling of her body against his, the way her arms held on so tightly, made its way into his thoughts.
He shoved them deep back down where they came from.
After locking his computer, Sephiroth began walking back to his suite. He knew that with this information he had, he should have turned her in for her crimes, made her deception known, but he didn’t. He casually opened his front door with a click, removed his shoes, and stepped into his kitchen. He made himself a strong drink and pretended that nothing had ever happened.
Chapter 5: Endurance
Chapter Text
Talia was flipping through the pages of an old book that she found in one of the cabinets of her room, when she heard a sudden knock at her door. She wasn’t expecting any visitors, or even her doctor at the moment, but she sat up in her bed and called out to the person on the other side.
“Come in.”
An elegant woman in a grey pinstripe suit and tall black heels opened the door. She was tanned, athletically built, and seemed to be in her mid-thirties. In her hands, was a small pamphlet. Talia could only make out the words ‘mako’ and ‘enhancement,’ which piqued her interest. “Good Afternoon, Lyra. I’m Dr. Baez, an Infusion Specialist. How are you doing today?”
“I’m alright,” Talia responded lazily while placing the book next to her. She was quickly becoming sick of everyone asking how she was doing, but she was also aware that they were just doing their jobs. She adjusted her posture once more and tied her raven black hair back with a velvet ribbon that she always kept tied around her wrist.
“Good… good,” Dr. Baez took a seat in the same chair that Tseng sat in the day prior. It seemed that everyone at Shinra followed a similar pattern: clean appearance, well mannered, and kept a respectable distance away from her. “I’m here because the previous doctor in charge of your care has ordered mako infusions to speed up your treatment. Have you heard about them?”
“I have… That’s what Shinra pumps into SOLDIER, right? To make them stronger?”
“Yes, that’s part of it,” Dr. Baez said while running her manicured thumb along the edge of the pamphlet, “but, it also has some medical benefits that you could take advantage of if you wish. With a small dose, your lacerations could heal by the afternoon. There are side effects, of course, but they’re only temporary.”
“What kinds of side effects?”
“Well, after the infusion, you’ll feel like you have a bad cold. It may last up to 2-3 days. Your eyes might also glow for a few hours. Neither of which are permanent with acute exposure.”
“So I’ll look similar to the men who brought me here?” The image of the silver haired soldier’s eyes popped into her mind; abnormally bright green slits that, for a split second, bore into her brown ones, but softened when he saw the state that she was in. The smallest amount of empathy had slipped through his stoicism, but enough to make her not write him off completely.
“Yes, for a short time, but not as intensely. You’ll get nowhere near as much as they do. With your case, you’ll probably be receiving a total of about two milliliters based on how well your body takes to it. I’ll be administering them myself, so I’ll let you know how you’re doing throughout the whole thing.”
“Forgive me for overstepping but… What’s your endgame? I mean… What will happen to me after I’m fully healed, and it’s time to decide whether or not I’m let go? Surely your bosses wouldn’t want to waste the mako on me without expecting something afterwards. Is this all some kind of test?”
The other woman’s face faltered ever so slightly, “I know it’s difficult to believe, but I don’t have any ulterior motives. My only intention is to make you feel better.” She then leaned in a bit closer. “It’s not often that I get to do that. Most of my efforts are focused on SOLDIER, so working with a civilian, albeit one under unique circumstances, is a nice change of pace.”
Talia placed a hand on her injured side, as if comforting it. “I guess I can only take your word for it. I wish everyone here felt the same.”
“Agreed,” Dr. Baez said while crossing one leg over the other. “Part of my job as a clinician is making sure that my patients make informed decisions. While I cannot control others in how they treat the detainees here, I can make your experience with me easier in other ways. You tell me what you need and I’ll do my best to accommodate.”
Talia hummed in response, pausing for a beat to choose her next words carefully. The doctor’s passion seemed genuine, and while she still needed to be careful, she needed to get better quickly. The faster she recovered, the faster she could begin her escape. It might be a risk worth taking. “You’re saying I can trust you?”
“I am.”
“What makes you different from those soldiers?”
“For starters, I won’t place you in handcuffs, and I won’t force you to do anything you don’t want to do.”
“Fair enough,” Talia chuckled, “I’ll do the infusion.”
Dr. Baez smiled and stood from her seat, “Excellent, I’ll leave this for you,” she handed Talia the pamphlet, “You can read it over at your leisure. I’ll come get you in a few hours once your infusion chair is ready.” She hastily left through the door, and the clicking of her heels echoed loudly down the hall as she walked away.
***
An hour or so later, Talia was escorted by two troopers who took her to a large room with rows of infusion chairs taking up most of the space. To the left of the entrance was some sort of medicine station, where she could see a few scientists working with mako. The bright turquoise substance looked as vivid as ever, sticking out against the expanse of clear tubing and white lab coats.
Her eyes locked onto a lab assistant pouring the fluid into one flask from another, crouching down to read the measurements. She was intrigued, having never been so close to something with such an impact on people’s lives. What would it feel like to be… enhanced? To be able to perform in ways that were beyond the limits of the human body?
Doctors and nurses were milling about, and a few second and third class soldiers took up some of the seats whilst talking amongst themselves. After the troopers removed her handcuffs, a nurse pointed her in the direction of a vacant chair, ordering her to go sit. The bright overhead lights caused Talia to shield her vision with her hand, making her almost bump into an unexpected acquaintance.
“ ‘Scuse me, sir— wait…” the tall dark haired soldier from the other day looked down at Talia in amusement, “You’re… Angeal, right?” She squinted up at him as her eyes adjusted.
The man laughed gruffly, “I am.” His cobalt blue eyes shined with barely detectable amusement.
“I didn’t expect to see you here.”
“Neither did I,” he said while sitting down in one of the infusion chairs, “How have you been faring, Lyra?”
“Better than I expected,” Talia responded with a shrug of her shoulders. She sat down in the chair next to him. The nurse came over briefly and informed her that Dr. Baez would see her shortly. She then turned to Angeal, her voice low, “Any news on my case?”
Angeal sighed. “It’s still ongoing. You will be informed when we need you to come in for your statement, which should be soon.”
“Then afterwards I can be released?”
“No. And I don’t know when that will be. That’s not up to me to decide.”
“Can you tell me what you can decide?”
“Not very much.” He let out a soft chuckle.
“You are immensely helpful.”
“Just being honest.”
“I can appreciate that, at least.” Talia leaned back in her chair and crossed her arms. She decided to change the subject to something lighter. “Is mako all they say it is?”
“Every bit. I couldn’t do my job without it. I’m surprised they haven’t prescribed it to you sooner.”
Talia fiddled with the hem of her hospital shirt as she spoke. Her attention was fixated on the marble tiles below her. “Well, it’s a valuable resource, and one that is also finite. Once we run out, there won’t be anymore. They were probably hesitant to give it to someone like me.”
Angeal frowned; his brows pulled together in concern, “Someone like you?”
“Yes, a criminal. Weren’t those Sephiroth’s words the other day? Guilty until proven innocent, right? I just wonder what changed their minds. I almost don’t want to know to be honest.”
The Soldier answered her with hesitation. The kind that meant he’ll probably regret having this conversation in the first place. “Enough of that,” he said, keeping his voice low, “Don’t make yourself sound like you aren’t one of us. By that I mean, pretend like you’re just a regular Midgar citizen, who just had an unfortunate turn of events. That should help your situation. Just… blend in.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.” An anxious thought began forming in her mind, but before she could ask what he meant, the sound of heels clicking against marble interrupted their conversation. Talia knew it had to be no other than Dr. Baez, and turned to face her.
“Are you ready, Lyra?” She chirped when she stopped in front of her chair.
“Yeah,” she nodded, “Let’s get started.” Angeal mouthed a subtle ‘good luck’ to her before he too was beginning his infusion.
Within a few minutes, Dr. Baez took Talia’s vitals and hung a 500 ml bag of saline onto an infusion pole. She inserted a needle into her veins, placed her port, and then secured the site with medical tape. The doctor’s quick work was fluid and painless, and when the mako went into her bloodstream, she felt like she was being rebuilt from the inside out. A warm sensation spread through her abdomen, which grew hotter and hotter, until she could feel the muscles and sinew pulling together. She dared not look under her hospital shirt, fearing she would ruin the progress she was making. Her bandages felt tighter against her skin as slowly but surely, the wound closed, the infection purged, and she was made whole again.
After another dose of mako to finish the job, that revitalizing feeling was met with slight fatigue, but not enough to bother Talia yet. She leaned back further and pulled her knees to her chest; a comfortable position now that she was no longer aching with every movement. She looked over at Angeal, whose head was now slumped over, and his eyes were closed. He was asleep. She looked over his limp form for a moment before returning her gaze back onto the floor. He must be used to this sort of thing, seeing how relaxed he was. It dawned on her that he must not see her as a threat at all. He dozed off just mere feet away from her despite the fact that he and his friends brought her here in handcuffs just the other day. Everything was so strange and confusing here , she thought, including those men.
Then, Talia’s head began to ache. Then her shoulders, and then her back. Just as Dr. Baez described, she felt like she suddenly caught a virus. She was growing feverish, which caused a sheen of sweat to form on her forehead. She rubbed her neck, a vain attempt to soothe the soreness that was getting worse by the minute. She wanted the infusion to stop, to rip off her port, but she knew that this was something she just had to endure. She looked over at Angeal again, curious if he was feeling the same thing, but he was still sleeping. She began to wonder if he was truly insane, or even a masochist. He didn’t even flinch when another doctor checked his port.
A blood pressure cuff wrapped around Talia’s free arm unexpectedly. Dr. Baez appeared by her side without her realizing, and took her vitals once more. She assured her that this was all normal and that she would feel better by the morning.
“117/83,” she read off of the monitor, “Pulse is 102. Tell me what you’re feeling so far.”
Talia cleared her throat, “Tired, sore… want to get back to bed…”
“You will soon, I promise. Only a few more minutes left.”
The doctor kept true to her word, and soon Talia’s port was removed. She was helped into a wheelchair and brought back to her hospital room. Her legs felt like they were made of stone, making every step slow and agonizing. She trudged towards her bed, not bothering to even get herself washed up. Once her head hit her pillow, she fell asleep almost instantly.
Chapter 6: Impatience
Chapter Text
It was half past nine, and the First Class SOLDIER commons was peaceful that night. Soft piano music was playing in the background from an old radio, a thoughtful gift from Angeal’s mother given to them a few years back. Sephiroth nursed a cup of black tea while skimming through an archive of old Sector Five newspapers on his datapad. He was looking something, anything that would give more insight on the Hawthornes. Though, the only person who had a paper trail was Soren, and even that was limited.
Everything he had read about the old man had been unremarkable. By both reputation and appearance, he was a simple widower who owned a shoe store and repair shop. The only times his name was ever explicitly mentioned was when he announced that he was closing for the holidays, or when he ran a sale and put out an advertisement. Sephiroth kept coming across the same newspaper entries saying the same things again and again. It was as if he was in an eternal limbo, going through the motions year after year. And by all written accounts, he never remarried, changed careers, or moved away from the Sector. Sephiroth was baffled, but at the same time, he didn’t judge him for his choices. He was in a similar position himself. He had been a part of SOLDIER since the day he was born, and never branched out to do anything else with his talents.
Not that Shinra would ever allow it, Sephiroth thought as he skimmed over another boring article. He was bound to them in every way possible. At the very least, Soren Hawthorne was actually able to marry a woman he loved and choose his line of work, something that he never even imagined for his future.
“Hey, Sephiroth, what are you reading?”
Genesis’s playful voice interrupted his train of thought. He felt a nudge to his shoulder and instinctively let out a deep breath.
“Just doing some research on the Sectors,” he responded curtly.
“Seriously? You and I have very different ways of spending our free time.” Genesis pulled out a chair and plopped himself down. “I don’t know how you can keep yourself holed up in this place.” He shook his head before giving Sephiroth a mischievous smile, “Say… Why don’t you come with me to Trapper’s instead?”
Sephiroth flinched. There was only one time that he had followed Genesis into that bar, and afterwards he swore that he would never return. The music kept blaring in his ears, the alcohol made him sick to his stomach, and his boots stuck to the floors with every step he took. The men were belligerent; screaming and shouting while throwing their fists into the air and spilling their ale. The bartenders struggled to keep everyone’s goblets full, creating even more chaos among its patrons. He had spent the entire night sulking in a low lit corner, regretting his decisions and fending off angry drunkards, all while Genesis entertained his waitress ‘friend.’
“I’ll pass,” Sephiroth mumbled as he stood up with his mug in hand. He walked over to refill his tea, and as he did so, he heard Genesis scoff at him.
“You’re no fun.”
Sephiroth rolled his eyes. “Like you said, Genesis, we just have very different ways of spending our free time,” he quipped.
The entrance door suddenly opened, and both men turned to see Angeal stumble inside. He held a palm to his forehead, wincing in pain. He looked completely exhausted, as if he had just come back from a long battle.
“Infusion day, huh?” Genesis pulled a seat out for Angeal to sit, which he obliged.
“Yeah… kills me every time.” He groaned and began rubbing his temples. “I fell asleep during it at least.”
“I never understood how you manage to do that,” Sephiroth remarked, “Those rooms are the least comfortable places I can think of, aside from the labs in Research and Development.”
“Not even I know to be honest with you, but it’s a skill I’m grateful to possess.”
“Hojo wasn’t there, was he?” Genesis shuddered.
“No,” Angeal answered as he lifted his head, “Thank the gods. There was no sign of the Professor… but, interestingly enough, our new ‘prisoner’ was.”
Sephiroth perked up at the mention of Talia. While his reaction was subtle, it didn’t go unnoticed by Genesis, who examined him for a second before looking away. He thought he’d almost seen a glimmer of excitement, but he refrained from jumping into any conclusions. If there was one thing he knew about the silver soldier, it was that he didn’t like being questioned on the spot.
“You saw Lyra?” Sephiroth clarified, using her fake name.
Angeal rested his elbow on the table, propping himself up to avoid falling out completely. “I did. She was next to me receiving an infusion herself. She looked much better than she did when we found her.”
“How do you think she handled it?” Genesis asked him, a rare show of concern coming through on his foxlike features.
“Don’t know. She was gone when I woke up, but I’m sure she’s fine and just resting now. She was in good hands. Dr. Baez was checking up on her every so often.”
Sephiroth didn’t say anything at first, too busy questioning his own judgment as his emotions began to rise ever so slightly. Even just the other night, he would never have thought to consider what he was about to do. He decided that he had to go see her. There were too many unanswered questions. Too many trails that went cold. He dumped out his freshly poured tea, earning a suspicious look from Genesis. After setting his mug aside, he turned to address the other two soldiers, “Do either of you know which room Lyra is in?”
Angeal raised an eyebrow at him, “No, I do not. Why do you ask?”
“I have a few questions to ask her.”
“This late?” Angeal’s voice grew higher.
“Why not?”
Genesis chimed in, his eyes giving away the surprise he felt towards Sephiroth’s words. “My dear friend, don’t you think visiting a woman alone in her hospital room at this time is a bit uncouth? I wouldn’t even do something like that! And imagine how she would react to seeing you at her bedside when she’s still sick from the mako. She’d be scared out of her mind.”
“You’re both turning this into something it isn’t,” Sephiroth countered, “I told you that I just have questions. I’m not going to try anything! What kind of person do you think I am?”
“I hate to say this,” Angeal added, “but I agree with Genesis. If it can wait until the morning, it’ll be for the better.”
Sephiroth wanted to protest, but instead he let out another deep breath and threw his hands up. “Fine… fine… but you know that we also need to get this investigation going. She’s barely said a word since we brought her here, and Tseng didn’t even-”
“It’s only been a few days,” Genesis cut in. “What do you expect? For things to happen overnight?”
“I certainly expect a bit more effort to ascertain the truth. We all read her vague testimonial, didn’t we? Think about it! How would a woman of her stature, who didn’t have anything to defend herself with, fight off a Bandersnatch and live to tell the tale.”
“Sephiroth,” Angeal droned, becoming more exasperated, “the pace at which we are working at right now is just fine. Director Lazard will give us our orders when he is ready. You need to leave her be. Whatever has gotten you worked up is worrying me.”
There it was. Angeal’s ability to read him like a book was always present. Sephiroth debated whether to defend himself, to come up with a good excuse for his behavior, but he instead leaned back against the counters and gave in.
“Alright, Angeal…You win. I won’t see her tonight.” With that, Sephiroth turned away and headed towards the door, wanting to be alone to think. He called out to them over his shoulder. “I’ll wait until the morning.”
“Thank you for your understanding,” Angeal shouted after him. He almost couldn’t believe what he had just heard. As Sephiroth retreated into the hallway, he leaned in towards Genesis and whispered to him. “Glad I could actually get through to his thick skull.”
“No kidding. I wonder what’s gotten into him?”